BusTalk

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 2:47 am Post subject:

It "toined" out I was on the last consist of the order; 75 of these "Rattlers" were built (100-174). I mentioned a total of ten such consists, including the one I was on; this means five (110-111-112-113-114; 115-116-117-118-119; 125-126-127-128-129; 140-141-142-143-144; and 160-161-162-163-164) would have been on the Tottenville side to provide "soivice" between there and Huguenot. All are apparently based out of Clifton Yard.

In any event, the "T/O's" controls were definitely something out of a sci-fi movie or TV series.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 9:37 am Post subject:

W.B.:

Could you imagine an "encounter" between a "Rattler" and an "Em-Ee 1" Shocked

It would NOT be a pretty sight, believe me! Shocked

:shock

Curious:

How do the door chimes on the "Rattlers" compare (sound-wise" to those "Avon" chimes on the old "Fordy-Fours"?

Or do they use buzzers, now?

'NYO"

["TOTTENVILLE LOCAL"]:

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 11:01 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 11:39 am Post subject:

W.B.:

Thanks for the info.

I only rode a then-new "Bronto" ("R-143") two stops on the "L", back in 2003, not long before I retired; I honestly cannot remember what the chimes sounded like.

From my much, much younger days, I can STILL hear the "old school", veteran conductors bawling out, in true "Noo Yawk" fashion:

"WATCH THE DOORS!"

Yeah, that was QUITE a few years ago, for "soitan"....... Rolling Eyes

"NYO"

["CC CHAMBERS STREET"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 8:19 pm Post subject:

A new era dawning on the "Isle of Staten"........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?161694

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?161696

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?161698

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ISLE OF STATEN"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 11:58 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

A few questions on your recent trek to "The Isle of Staten"...........

1:

I would imagine you observed the Clifton yard from the station platform?

2:

Any idea what that lone "Brightliner" R-32 was doing at the yard?

3:

What type of signals are now used? (I would guess the old B&O CPL's are now gone)

Thanks in advance.....

"NYO"

["Staten Island Railway"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 12:32 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 9:13 am Post subject:

W.B.:

As always, greatly appreciate the info. Wink

You mentioned an ex-Eye-Are-Tee" SMEE over on "The Isle of Staten" (a STRANGE place, indeed, for a "SMEE"(!!).........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?92952

(coirtesy: nycsubway.org)

["6 PELHAM BAY PARK"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 9:16 am Post subject:

Here's another view..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38324

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["RD324"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 9:35 am Post subject:

Yep, that's the one I saw . . .

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 12:04 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

Again.....

A VERY strange place for a retired "SMEE", for sure! Shocked

Strange, though, that the SIR is using an "Eye-Are-Tee" car, instead of, say, an "R-27"/"R-30", or any other retired BMT/IND car.............

"NYO"

["Staten Island Railway"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2025 12:21 am Post subject:

Interesting (and obscure!) "Isle of Staten" trivia......

After she returned after several years as a schoolteacher to the Royal Court of Siam, Anna Leonowens ("The King & I"), for several years, lived on "The Isle of Staten" (West Brighton) where she and her daughter opened a school.

They often rode the Staten Island Ferry; in fact, when employed as a teacher's assistant in Manhattan, "Mrs. Anna" also commuted on the Ferry, to and from work.

Who ever knew there was a connection between the Staten Island Ferry and "The King & I"? Wink

Back then, the fleet consisted of sidewheel, walking-beam boats, which would continue to operate into the early 1900s......

"NYO"

["STATEN ISLAND FERRY"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2025 5:38 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2025 10:21 am Post subject:

W.B.:

TOO MANY to count, for sure! Shocked

When the play was first being performed in the early 1950s, the SI Ferry's newest boats were the "MERRELL" class, and the "Es-Eye-Are-Tee" (still a B&O subsidiary) was still running trains to South Beach and Arlington, in addition to Tottenville,

And there was still QUITE a bit of "diverse" bus activity out of the new St. George terminal............ Wink

"NYO"

["DEPARTMENT OF MARINE & AVIATION"]

["BoT"]

["SIRT"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2025 10:30 am Post subject:

The "KING & I" premiered on Broadway in 1951.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_and_I

"Hi-Vs" were sill running "cheek to jowl" with the iconic "Lo-Vs"; the "Toid Aven-uh" El was still running in Manhattan, though cut back from South Ferry.

The "Moit" was still operating converible gate cars.

Streetcars were still running in Brooklyn, as well as over the QB Bridge.

"Queen Marys" were on borrowed time on "Fifth Aven-oo".

TARS was still running streetcars in lower Westchester.

THe Dodgers were still at home at Ebbets Field.

And "Soiface" was indeed the master of its domain........... Wink

"NYO"

["NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION"]